Softball | 1/29/2019 4:35:00 PM

FULL PSAC RELEASE

LOCK HAVEN, PA - The Bloomsburg University softball team was picked to finish second in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Central Division in the league's preseason coaches' poll released Thursday afternoon.

Lock Haven was tabbed to win the Central this season after receiving five first-place votes, while the Huskies received one first-place nod. IUP was picked to finish third, while Mansfield (tie for fourth), Pitt-Johnstown (tie for fourth), and Clarion (sixth) round out the division. West Chester received four first-place votes and was picked to win the Eastern Division, while defending PSAC Champion Gannon received five first-place nods in the Western Division.

The Huskies went 20-22 overall and 11-9 in the PSAC Central in 2018, and reached the PSAC Tournament for the eighth consecutive season dating back to 2011. The second seed in the Central entering the postseason, Bloomsburg defeated California (Pa.) 4-1 on Day 2 of the Tournament to earn head coach Susan Kocher her 250th career win at the helm of the Huskies. Bloomsburg's postseason run would come to an end later that day in a 9-4 loss to Seton Hill.

The Huskies return three All-PSAC Central players in 2019 in redshirt senior Kalynn Wheeland (South Williamsport, Pa./South Williamsport), senior Taylor Winkelman (Springfield, Pa/Springfield), and sophomore Tara Baney (Howard, Pa./Bellefonte). Wheeland was named to the Division II Conference Commissioners Association (D2CCA) All-American second team a season ago after leading the Huskies with a .414 batting average. Her .742 slugging percentage and 46 RBI both ranked second in the PSAC, while her .448 OBP was tied for 13th in the conference.

Winkelman started in all 42 games for Bloomsburg last season, posting a .324 batting average, a .428 slugging percentage, and 12 doubles. She was named to the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) All-Atlantic Region first team in 2018, as well as the Division II Conference Commissioners Association (D2CCA) All-Atlantic Region second team.

Baney started 12 games in the circle for the Huskies as a freshman in 2018, compiling an 8-6 record and a team-low 2.78 ERA. At the plate, Baney batted .321 in 20 starts, tallying four doubles and three homers. She drove in 13 runs and scored nine times while slugging .554 on the year. Baney and sophomore Abby Wild (Collegeville, Pa./Perkiomen Valley) will return for the Huskies pitching staff this season, with Wild tallying three wins in 16 appearances and six starts in 2018.

In addition, Bloomsburg will return three key starters from last season in seniors Marissa Shelhamer (Bloomsburg, Pa./Central Columbia), Emily Getz (Hagerstown, Md./North Hagerstown), and junior Ashli Venokur (East Brunswick, N.J./East Brunswick). Venokur was third on the team in batting average (.365) and tallied nine RBI in 32 starts behind the plate, while Shelhamer started 37 games and batted .327. Getz posted a .254 average and tallied five RBI in 25 starts.
 
The Huskies lineup will also be bolstered by the return of experienced veterans Alexa Erney (Carlisle, Pa./Cumberland Valley), Julia Knight (Kennett Square, Pa./Unionville), Kelsey Impink (Schwenksville, Pa./Perkiomen Valley), Balee Leeser (Sunbury, Pa./Shikellamy), Briannah Dobson (York, Pa./Central York), Jadyn Dunkelberger (Shamokin, Pa./Southern Columbia), and Nicolette Ray (Abington, Pa./Abington).  

Bloomsburg opens the 2019 campaign at the University of Charleston (WV) Tournament on February 23 against the Golden Eagles and Mercyhurst. The Huskies first home game of the season will be on March 26 against Jefferson University.

PSAC Preseason Coaches' Poll (First-place votes)
Central Division
1. Lock Haven (5)
2. Bloomsburg (1)
3. IUP
T4. Mansfield
T4. Pitt-Johnstown
6. Clarion
Western Division
1. Gannon (5)
2. Seton Hill
3. Slippery Rock (1)
4. California
5. Mercyhurst
6. Edinboro
 Eastern Division
1. West Chester (4)
2. Kutztown 
3. Shippensburg (1)
4. Millersville
5. East Stroudsburg